Treatment of human acute schistosomiasis with oxamniquine induces an increase in interferon-gamma response to Schistosoma mansoni antigens

Patients with acute schistosomiasis were studied before and after oxamniquine treatment. They had been exposed to cercariae 5 to 9 weeks before, and presented compatible clinical manifestations, eosinophilia, and high levels of total IgE. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 were measured by ELISA in whole blood samples under soluble egg antigen or soluble adult worm preparation stimulation. After treatment, the reduction of leukocytosis and eosinophilia were not significant, but total IgE levels decreased significantly, in contrast to IFN-gamma levels that were significantly increased. The oxamniquine treatment of acute schistosomiasis patients is followed by an improvement of a Th1 response in vitro. If this response has a protective aspect is unknown, and some investigations need to be realized.

The activity of a metronidazole analogue and its β-cyclodextrin complex against Trypanosoma cruzi

In this study we prepared an inclusion complex between an iodide analogue of metronidazole (MTZ-I) and cyclodextrin (CD) to develop a safer and more effective method of treating Trypanosoma cruzi infections. According to our results, MTZ-I and MTZ-I:β-CD were 10 times more active than MTZ, demonstrating that the presence of an iodine atom on the side chain increased the trypanocidal activity while maintaining its cytotoxicity. The selective index shows that MTZ-I was 10 times more active against T. cruzi than it was against mammalian cells. The modification of MTZ side chains provides a promising avenue for the development of new drugs.

Inhibition of rotavirus ECwt infection in ICR suckling mice by N-acetylcysteine, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

Live attenuated vaccines have recently been introduced for preventing rotavirus disease in children. However, alternative strategies for prevention and treatment of rotavirus infection are needed mainly in developing countries where low vaccine coverage occurs. In the present work, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), ascorbic acid (AA), some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists were tested for their ability to interfere with rotavirus ECwt infectivity as detected by the percentage of viral antigen-positive cells of small intestinal villi isolated from ECwt-infected ICR mice. Administration of 6 mg NAC/kg every 8 h for three days following the first diarrhoeal episode reduced viral infectivity by about 90%. Administration of AA, ibuprofen, diclofenac, pioglitazone or rosiglitazone decreased viral infectivity by about 55%, 90%, 35%, 32% and 25%, respectively. ECwt infection of mice increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2, ERp57, Hsc70, NF-κB, Hsp70, protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) and PPARγ in intestinal villus cells. NAC treatment of ECwt-infected mice reduced Hsc70 and PDI expression to levels similar to those observed in villi from uninfected control mice. The present results suggest that the drugs tested in the present work could be assayed in preventing or treating rotaviral diarrhoea in children and young animals.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the interferon gamma gene are associated with distinct types of retinochoroidal scar lesions presumably caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection

The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interferon (IFN)-γ gene ( IFNG ) with different types of retinal scar lesions presumably caused by toxoplasmosis were investigated in a cross-sectional population-based genetic study. Ten SNPs were investigated and after Bonferroni correction, only the associations between SNPs rs2069718 and rs3181035 with retinal/retinochoroidal scar lesions type A (most severe scar lesions) and C (least severe scar lesions), respectively, remained significant. The associations of two different IFNG SNPs with two different types of retinal lesions attributable to toxoplasmosis support the hypothesis that different inflammatory mechanisms underlie the development of these lesions. The in vitro analysis of IFN-γ secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii antigens was also investigated. The association between SNP rs2069718 and type A scar lesions revealed that differential IFN-γ levels are correlated with distinct genotypes. However, no correlation was observed with IFN-γ secretion levels and the SNP rs3181035 , which was significantly associated with type C scar lesions. Our findings strongly suggest that immunogenetic studies of individuals with congenital or postnatally acquired infection are needed to better understand the role of IFN-γ and its polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of ocular toxoplasmosis.

Tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assay values are associated with antimicrobial peptides expression in polymorphonuclear cells during latent tuberculous infection

It has been reported that patients with progressive tuberculosis (TB) express abundant amounts of the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) cathelicidin (LL-37) and human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) in circulating cells, whereas latent TB infected donors showed no differences when compared with purified protein derivative (PPD) and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold (QFT)-healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to determine whether LL-37 and HNP-1 production correlates with higher tuberculin skin test (TST) and QFT values in TB household contacts. Twenty-six TB household contact individuals between 26-58 years old TST and QFT positive with at last two years of latent TB infection were recruited. AMPs production by polymorphonuclear cells was determined by flow cytometry and correlation between TST and QFT values was analysed. Our results showed that there is a positive correlation between levels of HNP-1 and LL-37 production with reactivity to TST and/or QFT levels. This preliminary study suggests the potential use of the expression levels of these peptides as biomarkers for progression in latent infected individuals.

Planejamento familiar de mulheres com transtorno mental: o que profissionais do CAPS têm a dizer

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar demandas de planejamento familiar que chegam ao Centro de Atendimento Psicossocial (CAPS) e investigar contribuições desse serviço para as mulheres portadoras de transtorno mental. Trata-se de estudo qualitativo, realizado com oito profissionais de um CAPS de Fortaleza-CE. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista, sendo utilizada para análise a técnica de conteúdo. As demandas detectadas foram: solicitação de informações pelos familiares para lidar com paciente sexualmente ativo; pacientes suscetíveis à violência sexual e gravidez; mulheres com depressão, em uso de carbonato de lítio. As contribuições: necessidade de rede integrada (atenção básica/CAPS), com profissionais conhecedores das particularidades do planejamento familiar dessas mulheres - parte defende atendimento na atenção básica, parte, atendimento no CAPS, destacando-se o matriciamento como estratégia a corresponsabilizar os dois polos, evitando encaminhamentos desnecessários aos CAPS, pelo fortalecimento da resolubilidade dos casos na atenção básica.

Citrus asymmetric somatic hybrids produced via fusion of gamma-irradiated and iodoacetamide-treated protoplasts

The objective of this study was to produce citrus somatic asymmetric hybrids by fusing gamma-irradiated protoplasts with iodoacetamide-treated protoplasts. Protoplasts were isolated from embryogenic suspension cells of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macfad.) cultivars Ruby Red and Flame, sweet oranges (C. sinensis Osbeck) 'Itaboraí', 'Natal', Valencia', and 'Succari', from 'Satsuma' (C. unshiu Marcow.) and 'Changsha' mandarin (C. reticulata Blanco) and 'Murcott' tangor (C. reticulata x C. sinensis). Donor protoplasts were exposed to gamma rays and receptor protoplasts were treated with 3 mmol L-1 iodoacetamide (IOA), and then they were fused for asymmetric hybridization. Asymmetric embryos were germinated, and the resulting shoots were either grafted onto sour orange, rough lemon or 'Swingle' (C. paradisi x Poncirus trifoliata) x 'Sunki' mandarin rootstock seedlings, or rooted after dipping their bases in indol-butyric acid (IBA) solution. The products were later acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. Ploidy was analyzed by flow cytometry, and hybridity was confirmed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of plantlet DNAsamples. The best treatment was the donor-recipient fusion combination of 80 Gy-irradiated 'Ruby Red' protoplasts with 20 min IOA-treated 'Succari' protoplasts. Tetraploid and aneuploid plants were produced. Rooting recalcitrance was solved by dipping shoots' stems in 3,000 mg L-1 IBA solution for 10 min.

Predicting soil erosion using Rusle and NDVI time series from TM Landsat 5

The objective of this work was to evaluate the seasonal variation of soil cover and rainfall erosivity, and their influences on the revised universal soil loss equation (Rusle), in order to estimate watershed soil losses in a temporal scale. Twenty-two TM Landsat 5 images from 1986 to 2009 were used to estimate soil use and management factor (C factor). A corresponding rainfall erosivity factor (R factor) was considered for each image, and the other factors were obtained using the standard Rusle method. Estimated soil losses were grouped into classes and ranged from 0.13 Mg ha-1 on May 24, 2009 (dry season) to 62.0 Mg ha-1 on March 11, 2007 (rainy season). In these dates, maximum losses in the watershed were 2.2 and 781.5 Mg ha-1 , respectively. Mean annual soil loss in the watershed was 109.5 Mg ha-1 , but the central area, with a loss of nearly 300.0 Mg ha-1 , was characterized as a site of high water-erosion risk. The use of C factor obtained from remote sensing data, associated to corresponding R factor, was fundamental to evaluate the soil erosion estimated by the Rusle in different seasons, unlike of other studies which keep these factors constant throughout time.

Relações empíricas entre características dendrométricas da Caatinga brasileira e dados TM Landsat 5

O objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar modelos para estimar características dendrométricas da Caatinga brasileira a partir de dados do sensor TM do Landsat 5. Medidas de diâmetro e altura das árvores foram obtidas de 60 parcelas de inventário (400 m2), em dois municípios do Estado de Sergipe. A área basal e o volume de madeira foram estimados com uso de equação alométrica e de fator de forma (f = 0,9). As variáveis explicativas foram obtidas do sensor TM, após correção radiométrica e geométrica, tendo-se considerado, na análise, seis bandas espectrais, com resolução espacial de 30 m, além dos índices de razão simples (SR), de vegetação por diferença normalizada (NDVI) e de vegetação ajustado ao solo (Savi). Na escolha das melhores variáveis explicativas, foram considerados coeficiente de determinação (R2), raiz do erro quadrático médio (RMSE) e critério bayesiano de informação (CBI). A área basal por hectare não apresentou correlação significativa com nenhuma das variáveis explicativas utilizadas. Os melhores modelos foram ajustados à altura média das árvores por parcela (R2 = 0,4; RMSE = 13%) e ao volume de madeira por hectare (R2 = 0,6; RMSE = 42%). As métricas derivadas do sensor TM do Landsat 5 têm grande potencial para explicar variações de altura média das árvores e do volume de madeira por hectare, em remanescentes de Caatinga situados no Nordeste brasileiro.

Distinção de espécies de eucaliptode diferentes idades por meio de imagens TM/Landsat 5

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de imagens do sensor TM/Landsat 5 na diferenciação de plantios comerciais de Eucalyptus dunnii e Eucalyptus urograndis com diferentes idades. Demarcaram-se parcelas para identificar as duas espécies, em dois períodos distintos (2009 e 2011), a idades de 3 e 5 anos, para E. dunnii, e 2,2 e 4,2 anos para E. urograndis. Avaliaram-se seis bandas do sensor TM/Landsat 5 (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 e B7) e seis índices de vegetação: razão simples (SR); índice de vegetação por diferença normalizada (NDVI); índice de vegetação ajustado ao solo (Savi)-0,25; Savi-0,5; índice de vegetação por diferença normalizada com uso da banda verde (GNDVI); e índice de umidade na vegetação (MVI). O processamento digital das imagens consistiu de correção geométrica, radiométrica e atmosférica. Os plantios de E. dunnii e E. urograndis foram diferenciados por meio de cinco bandas do Landsat (B2, B3, B4, B5 e B7) e três índices de vegetação (Savi-0,5, Savi-0,25 e GNDVI), no ano de 2009, e por quatro bandas do Landsat (B2, B4, B5 e B7) e seis índices de vegetação (NDVI, SR, Savi-0,5, Savi-0,25, MVI e GNDVI) no ano de 2011. Os dados espectrais extraídos das imagens TM/Landsat 5 são eficazes, tanto para distinguir as espécies de eucalipto como também a mesma espécie em plantios equiâneos.

A new method for intraoperative localization of epilepsy focus by means of a gamma probe

Objective To evaluate the utility of a new multimodal image-guided intervention technique to detect epileptogenic areas with a gamma probe as compared with intraoperative electrocorticography. Materials and Methods Two symptomatic patients with refractory epilepsy underwent magnetic resonance imaging, videoelectroencephalography, brain SPECT scan, neuropsychological evaluation and were submitted to gamma probe-assisted surgery. Results In patient 1, maximum radioactive count was initially observed on the temporal gyrus at about 3.5 cm posteriorly to the tip of the left temporal lobe. After corticotomy, the gamma probe indicated maximum count at the head of the hippocampus, in agreement with the findings of intraoperative electrocorticography. In patient 2, maximum count was observed in the occipital region at the transition between the temporal and parietal lobes (right hemisphere). During the surgery, the area of epileptogenic activity mapped at electrocorticography was also delimited, demarcated, and compared with the gamma probe findings. After lesionectomy, new radioactive counts were performed both in the patients and on the surgical specimens (ex-vivo). Conclusion The comparison between intraoperative electrocorticography and gamma probe-assisted surgery showed similarity of both methods. The advantages of gamma probe include: noninvasiveness, low cost and capacity to demonstrate decrease in the radioactive activity at the site of excision after lesionectomy.

Inclusion complex of the antiviral drug acyclovir with cyclodextrin in aqueous solution and in solid phase

Complexation between acyclovir (ACV), an antiviral drug used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infection, and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was studied in solution and in solid states. Complexation in solution was evaluated using solubility studies and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR). In the solid state, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and dissolution studies were used. Solubility studies suggested the existence of a 1:1 complex between ACV and beta-CD. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy studies showed that the complex formed occurs with a stoichiometry ratio of 1:1. Powder X-ray diffraction indicated that ACV exists in a semicrystalline state in the complexed form with beta-CD. DSC studies showed the existence of a complex of ACV with beta-CD. The TGA studies confirmed the DSC results of the complex. Solubility of ACV in solid complexes was studied by the dissolution method and it was found to be much more soluble than the uncomplexed drug.

Complexation of enalapril maleate with beta-cyclodextrin: NMR spectroscopic study in solution

A detailed NMR (¹H , COSY, ROESY) spectroscopic study of complexation of enalapril maleate with beta-cyclodextrin was carried out. The ¹H NMR spectrum of enalapril maleate confirmed the existence of cis-trans equilibrium in solution, possibly due to hindered rotation along the amide bond. The cis-trans ratio remained almost the same in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin but in one case it was found significantly different which suggests a catalytic role of beta-cyclodextrin in the isomerization. ¹H NMR titration studies confirmed the formation of an enalapril-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex as evidenced by chemical shift variations in the proton resonances of both the host and the guest. The stoichiometry of the complex was determined to be 2:1 (guest: host). The mode of penetration of the guest into the beta-cyclodextrin cavity as well as the structure of the complex were established using ROESY spectroscopy.

Improvement of genistein content in solid genistein/-cyclodextrin complexes β

Genistein:β-cyclodextrin complexes with high drug loading (19.22%) were prepared by freeze-drying and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spatial configuration of the complex was proposed by means of 2D-NOESY experiment combined with molecular modeling. According to the results obtained, the interaction of genistein with β -cyclodextrin in a 1:1 complex is supposed to occur mainly through the insertion of the guest A-ring in cyclodextrin cavity, without rule out the possibility of inclusion through the B-ring, as previously reported in the literature.